Maintain Control of The Information in Your Personal Injury Case
I’m continuing my discussion of the five things you must do when negotiating a settlement in your personal injury case. Once you have made pleasant and cordial contact with the insurance adjuster (as I detailed in my last video), you want to make sure you maintain control of what, how and when information gets shared with the adjuster. I have three warnings for you on this topic: Firstly, I would urge you not to provide any recorded statement to the adjuster. Usually, the adjuster will contact you early in the case for a recorded statement about the facts of the accident and your injuries. Although you may want to give a brief statement, I would encourage you to insist that itnot be recorded (to avoid potential contradictions in the future). Also, you should push any statement about your injuriesuntilafter you have sought in-depth medical consultation (so you can provide accurate information). Secondly, you should not sign anything allowing the adjuster to access your records. Typically, the adjuster will send authorization forms for you to sign. He or she might state that this will save you the hassle of gathering your own documentation in the case. Do not sign these. This is where it pays to do your own legwork on getting this documentation, as you control what the adjuster receives to evaluate the case. Finally, do NOT provide your social security number to the adjuster. He or she may say this is “mandatory” for you to report this. You may have to provide this if you are a Medi-Cal or Medi-Care recipient. If you are not a recipient of either of these benefits, simply tell the adjuster this, and do not give your social security number. Again, you want to remain polite and cordial in your dealings with the adjuster, but you must remain firm on the idea that YOU control the information in your case.
